Composition-Dependent Strategy

When using basic strategy, we look at the total of our cards compared to the dealer’s up card. But not all card combinations are created equal. The cards that comprise your total can actually make a difference in the action you take, further fine-tuning your strategy and reducing the house edge.

For example, let’s look at a situation where you have 16 and the dealer is showing a 10. Basic strategy will require you to hit. Ok, easy. But what composition-dependent strategy says is that you would stand on a 4-5-7 because you have a couple of low cards that could keep the dealer from busting. That means that there are more high cards left in the deck and the dealer has a better chance to go over 21.

Hand Interaction

Hand interaction is a technique that allows you to take over the edge of a hand. This is something that is only going to be available in a brick-and-mortar casino. It is not something most players think about because it requires you to bet on another player’s hand or have another player bet on your hand. For example, if the player next to you is dealt 11, but is a timid player and doesn’t want to double-down, you give him the doubling chips in exchange for those chips’ winnings. Of course, the player has to be ok with this.

In a reverse situation, there are times where what looks like an obvious split scenario is a losing play. You may be able to convince a fellow player to pay the split cost for you, perhaps by appealing to their ego as the “more knowledgeable” player.

Card Counting

Card counting to reduce the house edge in blackjack is fairly simple, though very difficult to master. In its basic form, you assign a value of +1 to cards of rank 2-6 and -1 to 10-Ace. Whenever one of those cards is revealed from the deck, add the values. When the running total is positive, that means there are more high cards in the deck, which is good for you, as you have a better chance at making a blackjack and the dealer has a better chance to bust. It is when the total is positive that you increase your bet size.

This cannot be done in a typical online blackjack game, as the computer reshuffles the deck after every hand (or every few hands at most). It is possible to do in a live dealer online casino game that uses an actual shoe like a brick-and-mortar casino, but it usually won’t be very useful. The cut card is usually placed too early in the shoe and the hands are dealt too slowly to be profitable. If you’re looking to become a card counting pro, we recommend you take a look at our comprehensive blackjack card counting guide.

Loss Rebate

Again, this is something that is usually only found in land-based casinos. It is also a technique that is almost always reserved for high rollers, something they need to negotiate with the casino ahead of time. When online casinos do have loss rebate, it is generally as a limited-time promotion and open to everyone.

With a loss rebate, the casino refunds a percentage of your losses after you make a certain number of bets. The fewer the bets, the higher the advantage is for the player. After a while, the advantage shifts to the casino and the house has the edge. Knowing at what point in the session to quit and take the loss rebate can give the player a nice boost.

Casino Comps

To get comps at a brick-and-mortar casino, signup for a player’s card (they are free) and give it to the dealer when you sit down at the blackjack table. A supervisor will write down your information and note your average bet and how long you play. When you are done, the supervisor will figure out how much you should have lost based on your total wagers and the average house edge, then give you a fraction of that in comps.

The thing is, though, you are using proper blackjack strategy (right?), so the house edge over you is lower than what the supervisor calculated. Thus, your comp may end up being more valuable than the house edge. Keep in mind that the supervisor isn’t going to watch every hand you play, often just the beginning and the end. Thus, if you bet a little higher at the start, their calculation might bend in your favor. And if you slow down and take a couple breaks, you might still get credit for more hands per hour than you actually play.

Online Casino Bonuses

You may be wondering if you can get casino comps at an online gambling site. You can’t get casino comps at online casinos in the same way that you do at a brick and mortar one, since the software monitors every bet you make. However, if you play blackjack online, virtually every casino site has deposit bonuses, which you can use to boost your gameplay. The blackjack site will give you a percentage of the money you deposit as a bonus. This bonus is set aside and unlocked as you play. Some online casinos also offer re-deposit or “reload” bonuses for follow-up deposits.

Be sure to read the playthrough requirements, which tell you how much you have to bet and on which games in order to unlock your deposit bonus. Typically, the bonus is released piecemeal and has an expiration date. Most bonuses can be withdrawn after they are unlocked but check the rules to be sure. The online blackjack sites we recommend at VSO have been thoroughly vetted for some of the best bonuses in the industry.